**Vedder Poster **Winner announced**

[Mr. Fingerbottom]

Drank Eddie's wine with the rest of the first two rows during Crazy Mary in Fargo 2003.
I'm not Catholic, but that was like Holy Communion.

[casserick]

I have no good story to tell, but I hope to meet him in Tulsa.....Thanks for the chance for an awesome poster.

[HaveIGotALittleStoryForYou]

When I hear Eddie's voice, it fills me with such raw emotion - I can't help but cry sometimes. It may seem over-dramatic, but it really isn't and I imagine it feels the same way to all you awesome Ed-lovers!! You all have such amazing Eddie stories that I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy - it's been my life-long dream to someday meet Ed and tell him how much his music has carried me through life. His lyrics seem to mirror my whole existence sometimes. At his solo shows, he'll be chatting with the crowd being super humble and awesome - and I swear, it's me who he is chatting to the whole time... everyone else just seems to fade away. The black velvet jacket is an inside story just between Ed and I, by the way

There was a time when I almost had the chance to shake his hand (or so I hoped) after his solo show in Vancouver '08. My friend and I were waiting outside in the alley of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, where a small group of devoted fans were there waiting patiently for Eddie to leave. About a half hour in, a super obnoxious drunk girl sauntered up with her boyfriend, and proceeded to have a yelling match right outside the door - where she then proceeded to yell at anyone who was listening to her 'private' discussion, and attempted to go inside through the back door. Needless to say, Ed was not cool with that and left through the front and took a taxi. I, along with everyone, was crushed. It's no exaggeration when I say, that girl was lucky to get out of there without a severe ass-kicking. We all left with our broken hearts in our hands.
I just hope that Eddie keeps on doing what he does - we're so lucky to have him in our lives - and he's somebody that I cherish every day.

Thanks for the chance to win your amazing and generous giveaway

[Suziemay]

Wow, you're doing a giveaway too? Very cool! Don't include me, but I will share!

Waited outside the Beacon after night 1, think it was 2+ hours? Can't remember now. Ed finally comes out and I thought for sure all that waiting was for nothing but sure enough of all the hands reaching out he managed to grab mine, and he made eye contact and said thank you. I tried to say, "No, thank YOU" but there were a ton of screaming people around me so he quickly made his way to the opposite end where there were less screaming people and talked to some fans.

It was more like a lingering hand-hold than a handshake. Ed's got soft hands

[belinda27]

I bet you never wanted to wash that hand!

Wow, you're doing a giveaway too? Very cool! Don't include me, but I will share!

Waited outside the Beacon after night 1, think it was 2+ hours? Can't remember now. Ed finally comes out and I thought for sure all that waiting was for nothing but sure enough of all the hands reaching out he managed to grab mine, and he made eye contact and said thank you. I tried to say, "No, thank YOU" but there were a ton of screaming people around me so he quickly made his way to the opposite end where there were less screaming people and talked to some fans.

It was more like a lingering hand-hold than a handshake. Ed's got soft hands

[Suziemay]

I bet you never wanted to wash that hand!

Wow, you're doing a giveaway too? Very cool! Don't include me, but I will share!

Waited outside the Beacon after night 1, think it was 2+ hours? Can't remember now. Ed finally comes out and I thought for sure all that waiting was for nothing but sure enough of all the hands reaching out he managed to grab mine, and he made eye contact and said thank you. I tried to say, "No, thank YOU" but there were a ton of screaming people around me so he quickly made his way to the opposite end where there were less screaming people and talked to some fans.

It was more like a lingering hand-hold than a handshake. Ed's got soft hands

I might have waited until the next morning

[dan46er]

Never met Ed but believe it or not, my wife and I met via myspace. Every time her page came up "Big Hard Sun" came on. I'd love to get this to give to her on our third anniversary this May.

[dwhite76]

Keep the stories comming guys. Heck even if you dont win donate the poster to one of the Wish List Pre-Parties. Like one of the Vegas shows,Phoenix, and or Albuquerque. Ill be at those shows Ill bring it to them or I can ship it to another show of your choice in your name

[Long Gone Day]

Well, my story begins with the search for the PJ's tour bus after the Montreal 2011 show. Me and a couple friends spotted a bus and gear behind a barrier but it was guarded, so we hung around the garage where the bus would be leaving to hopefully get a glimpse of the band. However a black van with heavily tinted windows came out carrying the band (PJ) and I just stopped dead in my tracks and stared. I was within a couple feet of Pearl Jam! Damn my jaw must have been on the floor and they have probably had a good laugh at me I bet!

Thanks for the opportunity! You're very generous.

[Dirty Frankk]

That is awesome Don, you are great guy

[Released1980]

A STORY

If its me that wins Don, send it to whatever wishlist preparty elwayvedder and DirtyTom are working their asses off at or attending.

Nice Giveaway, pretty fella that Vedder was..

[Loulou]

Hi Don! really lovely poster and very generous of you. Wish I had a story for you, I loved seeing him tell some fella off for being rough to a woman in the audience here in 2009. If I win please donate this to a Wishlist Preparty of your choosing.

[Suziemay]

Keep the stories comming guys. Heck even if you dont win donate the poster to one of the Wish List Pre-Parties. Like one of the Vegas shows,Phoenix, and or Albuquerque. Ill be at those shows Ill bring it to them or I can ship it to another show of your choice in your name

I didn't even think about that.

How about you put me back in, and if I win, you can bring it to any of the Wishlist Pre-Parties of your choosing. Maybe one where your furry friend will be there as well

[juddboz80]

i dont have any good stories to tell, however every time i hear him sing its like hes talking to me, his music is unbelievable and it still gives me chills sometimes listening to his voice!! i will be a die hard ed/pj fan for life, nothing compares!!!!! thanks for the chance to win!!!

[man_uv_the_hour]

A couple stories I'll try to make as short as possible.
Eddie came to Toronto for 2 shows in 2008 which is always amazing cuz it's difficult for me to travel, otherwise I'd be following them on tours for sure. First night before the show, probably a hundred people waiting for him to come out of his bus (which we could see him in). When he finally did, a screaming girl tried running up to him but was stopped, so to be a nice guy, (as he was already up the stairs going into the venue), he reached in his pocket and dropped a handful of picks. The girl ran over and of course I wanted one so I went running. The guard that had held her let her go after the picks as he held me, saying 'they're for her'. This girl must've got at least 10 picks and refused to give me one. I was pretty mad but thought 'if I'm just a good guy, maybe something better will come'.
End of the show that night, Eddie allowed the first few rows to come stand by the front of the stage for the last couple songs. During Hard Sun, I'm on the left side as he's walking along from center stage to the right side doing little handshakes with everyone in front. I'm kinda upset once again for missing the handshake by just a few feet but then he comes walking towards the left side of the stage. He stops right in front of me, turns his back to the crowd and lets himself fall back off the stage landing right in my arms. Awesome.

Second night, after the show, waiting outside for Eddie to come out with probably about 300 people. After an interesting series of events, a security guard gives me a 'tip' on which door he's gonna come out of. So, while about 300 people are waiting by the back door with his bus, I'm standing all alone by the front entrance of Massey Hall. I'm waiting and waiting and finally I notice what's supposedly Eddie's driver coming up the block. I look back again towards the closed front doors as I notice one door opens just enough for someone to peek out of. Just then, the doors fly open as Vedder comes out surrounded by about 8 guards. Trying to sound as least threatening as possible, but needing to be loud enough to get his attention, with only about 2 seconds to make it happen as he only had about 5 steps from the doors to his car, I force out a simple "Eddie?", but one of the security team already had me in a bear hug, smiling at me and saying 'sorry'. Devastated.
Any normal star trying to avoid a mob of fans would just jump in the car and be gone. But Eddie is no normal star.
Instead of getting in the car, he stops and looks at me, then looks at the guard holding me, and says 'It's okay, I know him. Let him through."
The guards parted as I walked up the middle between them, and I can't really describe the feeling. Eddie only stayed a couple minutes, but he was so nice. As I said 'thank you' for the last time before he left, a handshake woulda been cool, but he actually gave me a hug.

There's amazing actors and athletes and singers and everything, but Eddie is my actual, number one hero, so this meeting will always be one of my favorite moments of my life.
And it's not just that he's an awesome guy, it's the lyrics. I'm quoting his lyrics all the time. Pearl Jam songs are not just songs. They're used to celebrate good times and help through the bad. They guide me, raise my spirits and give me hope.
One of my favorite lines ever comes from Down. "If hope could grow from dirt like me, it can be done".
Eddie has inspired me to become a better person and I will be forever grateful.


And I would love to have that poster.